The Cardinal received a tip about the dead goat on December 3, 2016. A concerned citizen thought the public should know about it. Since Arlington Heights police radio communications and dispatch went silent with encrypted radios, the media can’t track all incidents that occur in Arlington Heights. The police denied knowing anything about a dead goat, and the police never notified citizens via media release or its Citizen Observer service.

At 8:08 p.m. Saturday December 3, 2016, The Cardinal posted an article and used Facebook to ask followers to report any witnessed information about the goat scene, and to submit pictures or video of the scene as proof. At 1:11 a.m. Sunday December 4, 2016 a person who wished to remain private submitted three photos of the goat with the head resting next to the body.

Before a forecasted snow storm arrived, The Cardinal went to look for a match of the pavement markings at Jewel-Osco’s parking lot compared to pavement markings recognizable in the photo. There was concern that the photos could have been grabbed somewhere on the Internet and used to tip a prank.

A match was discovered in the aisle aligned with the west Jewel-Osco entrance door, and south of the outermost shopping cart corral in that aisle. The pictures were validated by matching identifying pavement markings and asphalt cracks that were visible in the goat photos and in an aisle at the Jewel-Osco parking lot.

In the photos submitted, the goat appeared to have an ear tag that is possibly used for records, registration, proof of ownership, etc. Goat tags may also be used to record various meat standards for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) either currently or for future standards. Ear tags are often used on meat goats. Staff at the butcher counter and deli counter at Jewel-Osco said they don’t sell any goat products at the store.

Tripod with reflective vest shows where goat’s body was discovered for orientation in the parking lot.

Initially, the date of the discovery by witnesses was not precise, and the location of the goat was also not reported precisely by witnesses. But this is what happens when news is not reported in real time.

The Cardinal received a tip that the goat was found with the animal’s throat slit in the parking lot near the aisle by the exit of the store and about half way to Rand Road from the exit door. The goat was actually found in the aisle in line with the west entrance.

In the first tip, the date of the discovery was reported to have been the Saturday before Thanksgiving, November 19, 2016 about 8:00 p.m. According to the witness, a customer discovered the goat, and reported the finding to a store manager. The witness reported believing the police were called, but the Arlington Heights Police Department could not immediately confirm awareness of the report.

A second witness, who saw a video of the dead goat, recalled that the goat was discovered on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 — the day before Thanksgiving. The second witness was not aware that the throat was slit, but reported the goat was flattened like road kill.

The Daily Herald today is reporting that the police told reporters that the goat was found and reported on the evening of Friday, November 25, 2016 — Black Friday.

A store manager contacted at Jewel-Osco at 440 East Rand Road denied having any awareness of a dead goat at the premise.

If anyone can confirm any additional information related to these reports, or has a picture or video, please send Facebook.com/ArlingtonHeightsCrime using the MESSAGE button.

Cardinal Note: As of June 5, 2013 — up to and including the date of this article — police incidents related to the above police agency are not reported in real time or within a prompt time period. Police protecting their realm of investigation and police activity, have chosen to use secret military-grade encrypted radios to withhold their police communications, which were previously open to the public and news media via monitoring of public safety scanning radios — with no known negative results locally.

The delayed knowledge or entirely blacked out knowledge resulting from encrypted police communications may protect certain police operations and investigations, but it also puts the public at risk in situations such as when armed and dangerous offenders are at large and when other similar situations occur, such as when desperate offenders of property crimes are eluding police. In other cases, the delayed or blacked out information inhibits or prohibits the possibility of the public providing early witness accounts before a criminal trail goes cold. Citizens are much more likely to recognize or recall suspicious or criminal activity if they are aware of the criminal incident within minutes or hours of its occurrence. The most serious incident involving dire results would be a trail that is allowed to go cold in the case of child abduction.

The lack of real time information from public police dispatch also weakens an effective neighborhood watch program mostly working to prevent property loss, but also working to prevent possible violent crimes.

Lack of real time information from police dispatch also delays public awareness or eliminates public awareness of general hazards and traffic or other situations in every day living in an otherwise economically thriving community.

Police have alternate ways to transmit tactical, operational or investigative information, while still keeping their main public dispatch channels open for the best balance of public safety and police safety.

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Anyone having information about serious crime in Arlington Heights should register on CitizenObserver.com and look for the anonymous TIP411 feature, or call Arlington Heights Crime Stoppers at 847-590-STOP (847-590-7867). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000. Not a resident of Arlington Heights? Check CitizenObserver.com for availability for your community.

Monday - Partly cloudy. Blustery. Highs from around 40 along the lake to the mid 40s well inland. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph in the morning increasing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon.